As any good Eurovision artist knows, vocal talent is really only a secondary consideration – of far more importance is the flamboyance of your accessories. So here are some of the more creative choices in props over the recent years!
Giant oversized musical instruments – Lithuania 2010
Because why even pretend that you can actually play a musical instrument when you can have these giant oversized plastic versions instead? Inculto really brought the lyrics of “Eastern European Funk” to life with the help of these giant oversized instruments! A four metre high flaming dress – Moldova 2013
Aliona Moon’s 2013 costume was more like part of the set than just a simple frock. The spectacular flaming Hunger-Games inspired frock will definitely go down as one of the more memorable on-stage accessories in Eurovision history! A man in a giant hamster wheel – Ukraine 2014
While Mariya Yaremchuk might have fronted this act belting out the tune Tick – Tock it seems it was definitely her accompanist Igor Kuleshyn who stole the show with his acrobatic performance in that giant hamster wheel! Just try to look away – you can’t! IT’S HYPNOTIC! A gymnast on a trampoline – Greece 2014
A good tip if you feel like your singer’s dance moves might be a little bit lacking. Stick a gymnast in the background doing some spectacular high-flying backflips, to take the heat off. Greece’s Freaky Fortune feat. RiskyKidd clearly understood that it would add some rather spectacular theatrics to help distract from rather off-key vocals! Giant oven – Russia 2012
Just because you’re performing on the international stage doesn’t mean you can’t get some baking done at the same time! Russia’s Buranovskiye Babushki paid tribute to their home region of Umurtia, with a remix of the local folk music, wearing traditional costumes and also portraying some of the traditional baking of their village. Plus at the end they got to share their baked goodies with everyone! A highly sexual butter churn – Poland 2014
Like the Babushki of Russia, Poland’s Donatan & Cleo just wanted to pay tribute to the traditional working-women of their home country, with their song 'We are Slavic'. We’re not entirely sure though that this woman has every really churned butter in her life… just a guess though. Gramophone – Croatia 2008
Croatia rocks out with a Gramophone in 2008 Source: Eurovision.tv
A Dune Buggy – France 2008
Well Sebastian Tellier’s arrival in a dune buggy certainly made for a spectacular entrance, but the presence of the inflatable beach ball was never really explained. All of this helped make for one of the weirdest Eurovision performances of all time. Including a group of backup singers dressed up to look like the iconic front man. Man trapped in a box - Azerbaijan 2013
Farid Mammadov seemed to have been channelling Will Ferrell’s Anchorman alter-ego Ron Burgundy in his rendition of ‘Hold Me’. “I’M IN A GLASS CASE OF EMOTION!!” Office Chair ballet – Spain 2006
Spanish girl group Las Ketchup really got to live out every bored office workers fantasy and take the office chair ballet to the next level on the international stage. And they should definitely get extra points for coordinating their costumes in the same fabric as the office upholstery! Borrowed props from ‘Priscilla’ – Iceland 2006
Iceland's Silvia Night in 2006 Source: Eurovision.tv
A transparent two-sided piano – Romania 2010
Because why would Paula and Ovi just go for two regular pianos when they could battle it out through the lyrics of the song using this spectacular instrument as their battleground?
Giant acrobat spinning wheels – Ukraine 2009
Ukraine's Svetlana in 2009 Source: Eurovision.tv
The Eurovision Song Contest will be broadcast on SBS’s Eurovision Weekend - Friday 13, Saturday 14 and Grand Final Sunday 15 May, 7.30pm on SBS, with LIVE early morning broadcasts from 5am on Wednesday 11, Friday 13 and Sunday 15 May.
